How to Create A Vision Plan (Part I)

“Where There Is No Vision, The People Perish.”

By Donald M. Muhammad

Guide for Married and Courting Couples to Building a Healthy and Productive Family VISION PLAN.

According to studies, one of the largest contributors to marital problems is unmet expectations. Often couples, both married and courting, are not on the same page when it comes to what is expected of one another as well as expectations of what a good marriage and family life looks like. Consequently, dissatisfaction and disappointment creeps in as we try to ‘feel’ our way through life’s challenges.

To address this challenge early on, we’ve provided for you an exercise and activity that is designed to create continuity, agreement and clarity to every marriage and courting couple. Remember the scripture “Where there is no Vision, the people perish?” The following is a very brief outline of the process of developing a Vision/Mission Statement for a couple or family. This is a loose example and guide and should be adjusted based upon the various dynamics that make up every relationship.
Please enjoy this process…


Step 1. Brain Storming – Paint the Picture

Before taking even the first step in building any structure, there is usually a drawing or picture of the completed Structure – The Final Product. Often with buildings the developer will go so far as to paint in trees and bushes and all the amenities the building will posses. Sometimes a miniature model is created complete with miniature people.

Similarly, before writing down anything, you should spend hours upon hours talking and discussing what life will look like years from now. At some point, you may feel like your getting ahead of yourself because of the details that are required in an accurate painting. But you’re only making sure that the picture is clear, accurate and genuinely shared by both parties.

This mental picture or image is made up of both Material and Principled items, such as a House(material) and a Home(immaterial). You could include how many children along with your idea of what they will grow up to become.

It’s important to be very open and honest in this process. Realizing that it’s probably the first time one or either of you have every completed such an exercise, you should be patient with one another and without pressure on conflict, discuss those things that mean the most to you. This exercise is very enlightening as it requires one to develop their Divine Faculties of Imagination, Concentrations, Affirmation and Focus. You’ll likely find this enjoyable and IT SHOULD BE!
Don’t be afraid to Dream Big! We are Believers in the first Perfect God – “So Be Ye Perfect, Even as I Am.”

Subjects to consider: Children: How many?
House/Condo – How many?
Live in the City/Suburb/Country?
Do you have any dream business endeavors?
What are your Educational Pursuits?


From this point of a full and completed picture, we begin to work backwards, using those Divine faculties: visualization, imagination, concentration and affirmation to clothes the ideas – “Where there is not vision, the people perish.” (Look for Part II in the next edition).

(For more information on life-coaching for couples and families, contact masterpeace.coach@gmail.com. Also, consider attending the Nation of Islam’s Single’s Retreat August 19-22, 2010 in Arizona. Look for details in an upcoming issue of The Final Call Newspaper.

What magazine uplifts more women than any other?

“A Nation Can Rise No Higher Than It’s Women” said The Honorable Elijah Muhammad many years ago. Since that is a fact, the upliftment and education of women is extremely important. A magazine that has taken on that task is Virtue Today Magazine.
Virtue Today celebrates its 5th Anniversary by debuting at Saviours’ Day an issue featuring Mother Tynnetta Muhammad on the cover. In her exclusive interview with Virtue Magazine, Mother Tynnetta enlightens readers with the wisdom she was given by her husband, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

This issue also features articles on "How to prepare for a relationship" and "How to create a Vision Plan." This is an AWESOME edition. The fall edition plans to honor strong FOI(Student Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Lieutenants etc.) in the nation that our “virtuous” readers admire.
Along with the Final Call, Virtue has helped to promote and highlight Believers all over the Nation. In the past Virtue has featured:
· Azizah Lisa, singer (Chicago, IL)
· Jesse Muhammad, writer(Houston, TX)
· Vincent Muhammad, writer (Savannah, GA)
· Jamillah Farrakhan, model (Chicago, IL)
· Yonasda Lonewolf, writer and hip-hop artist (Arizona)
· Diana Muhammad, Designer (Sacramento, CA)
· Jennifer Muhammad, Designer (Exclusive Designs)
· Carmen Muhammad, Designer (Al-Nisa Designs)
· QUEEN AMINAH, Designer (Los Angeles, CA)
· Raychelle Muhammad, writer (Houston, TX)
· Dr. Nkenge Muhammad, OB-GYN
· Sadiyah Evangelista, Attorney (Houston, TX)
· Charlene Muhammad, writer (Los Angeles, CA)
· Ava Muhammad, Minister, writer and attorney
· Latonja Styles-Muhammad, writer and marketer (Chicago, IL)
· Lost Sheep, rap group (New York, NY)
· Sister A'isha Muhammad, National Student Capt. (Chicago, IL)
· Charles and Barbara Muhammad, SETT program (Toledo, OH)
· Sew-So Beautiful (Chicago, IL)
Virtue is also the ONLY magazine that gives "The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan" a column in every issue and the ONLY magazine to have featured Mother Khadijah Farrakhan on the cover.

If you know of a “virtuous” woman in your city or would like to see Virtue feature a strong FOI, please email: virtuemagazine@hotmail.com. To order a copy, Send a Money order for $6.95 to Virtue Magazine, P.O. 61402, Raleigh, NC 27661. New Virtue T-Shirts now available! Only $12. For more information about Virtue Today Magazine, visit www.virtuemag.com or call (510) 815-4591.

How to Heal from Abuse

Bismillah.

Have you ever had to deal with a problem that caused you a great deal of pain? Or dealt with a situation where no one believed you? Physical, emotional and mental pain is difficult, however, “a healing is here.” God is here. God is. How do you know you were given another chance to overcome? YOU are still HERE. You still have the ability to pray and take action, right? Start with Atonement. (Read about the Protectors of Virtue at www.myspace/virtuemagazine).

I was blessed to grow up with a wonderful father in the home, a father who encouraged, inspired and protected me. However, I know that is not always the case. I remember the words that were spoken by the Minister at the Essence Music Festival in July 2006. His words were a healing, I am sure, to many in attendance. He offered the guidance below in dealing with any problem or unfortunate situation in our lives.
He said, “There is no circumstance in your life that is negative if you have a positive attitude towards what is deemed negative. A young man came to me one day and said, “Minister, my father molested me and I want to know why God would permit my father to molest me.” I told him that I do not know that I can speak for why God permits what He permits, but I would like him to look at his abuse in this manner. Many in this audience, particularly our Sisters, have been abused by fathers, uncles, cousins and so-called friends of the family that come into the house and scope a beautiful girl and deprive her of herself before she is able to understand herself…
If the person who suffers can understand how many tens of thousands and even millions have suffered what you have suffered, with the help of God, if He brings you out of that, then He may use you as an instrument to bring others out of their pain of what they suffer. It is how you look at the circumstances of your life…I want you to get away from the negative thinking of the negative circumstances that surround your personal life, that your negative circumstance was permitted by an awesome God, that He could bring you out of that circumstance and make you a saviour of those who suffer from that circumstance. You are destined to be world saviours.”
Let us let the healing begin…May God bless us all with love, peace and happiness.

Your sister,
Audrey